El Djem Amphitheater

TN 227

TN 210

TN 199

Sites and landscapes

In the small town of El Jem stand the impressive ruins of the largest coliseum in North Africa, an immense amphitheater which could accommodate 35,000 spectators. This 3rd century construction illustrates the extension and grandeur of the Roman Empire.
The El Jem amphitheater is an exceptional testimony to Roman architecture, particularly that of monuments built for spectacle purposes, in Africa. Located in a plain in the center of Tunisia, this amphitheater, built entirely of cut stone, is neither dug nor backed by a hill. In this way, it takes the model of the Colosseum in Rome without, however, being a simple copy of the Flavian building. Its dimensions (major axis of 148 meters and minor axis of 122 meters) and its capacity (estimated at 35,000 spectators) undoubtedly rank it among the largest amphitheaters in the world. Its facade has three floors of Corinthian or composite style arcades. Inside, the monument retains most of the bleacher support infrastructure. The podium wall, the arena and the underground passages are practically intact. This architectural and artistic work erected around 238 AD. BC constitutes an important milestone for the understanding of the history of Roman Africa. The El Jem amphitheater also bears witness to the prosperity of the small city of Thysdrus (current El Jem) during the time of the Roman Empire.

35x21 mm

Outremer

H. DABADIE

Georges Hourriez (E)

14 x 13½

Typographie

1,50 DT

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